Among those having some fun at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am was 2023 NCGA President David Pearson.
Pearson, a 10-handicap, played with professional Paul Haley II. The two shot 11-under 204, missing the cut by only four shots. During play, Pearson’s caddie and longtime friend Glenn Larson, came up with the phrase--‘beyond the bucket list.’
“It was a lifetime experience that you never expect to have,” Pearson said.
At some point during his three rounds, the 76-year-old Pearson’s fans included his wife Susan, in-laws, his grandkids, NCGA CEO Joe Huston and past NCGA Presidents Lee Gidney and Gail Rogers. According to Pearson, the grandkids only stuck around for a few holes.
“They wanted to see the real celebrities,” Pearson said. “They’ve seen grandpa before.”
On the Monday of tournament week, Pearson got a nice surprise when he was paired with Julie Wirth for a practice round. Wirth, one of a handful of women in the field who carries an impressive 4 Handicap Index, played on Team NCGA in last year’s NorCal Women’s Cup Matches.
“I told her I didn’t have to wish her luck because she’s such a skilled player,” Pearson said with a laugh.
The only NCGA President to win the Pro-Am is the late Charles Seaver in 1964. Seaver, however, didn’t become NCGA President until 1980. Other NCGA Presidents who have made the cut are Lon Haskew (2002), Kerry Gordon (2007), Vaughn Kezirian (2009) and John Ronca (2016).
